Thursday, June 30, 2005

Where do I start? I have thought thisover in my head and now to try to putit down on paper so to speak, how doI write it?

My mother was a horsewoman. A trueblue horsewoman . You know the type.She live and breathe horses. When sherode horseback, she was part of the horse.No matter what kind, American SaddleBred, 5 gaited or jumpers. They were allone - she and the horse. I think in all ofmy mothers life she was happiest on a horse.

I, on the other hand, was the greatestfrustration for my mother, especially whenyou mixed me and horses. I loved horses,don't get me wrong. Just I didn't jive as well.

They told me for years how at the age(of no fear) 3, that we had a horse thatwas a barn rat. It always ran back to thebarn. Sometimes I could turn this horseback around before it got to the barn. Othertimes the horse made it in to the barn,but within seconds the horse shot out ofthe barn and back to the ring with me stillon and at the reins. That was at 3. It mademy mother so proud and she would brag tofriends.

Somewhere between 3 and 8, Iguess I became horse stupid. As there wasa time I was taken to a show and put in aclass. I don't know what happen in that class,but I ended up in tears and cried to get outof the class. Which my mother lead me outand back to the trailer with her head hunglow. MARY RICHARDSON'S DAUGHTERCRYING TO GET OUT OF A CLASS? Howmortifying . She didn't retell that story, onlythe end of how embarrassing it was.

At about 10, a mouse colored gray withblack mane and tail, and a single black stripefrom mane to tail - pony arrived at our place.Mom gave him the show name of MightyMouse. He ended up with the stable nameof BUCKY, which he came by honestly. Buckywas to become my show pony.

So in the Spring, he and I started out. The practicewas to be 2 times around the ring at a walk.2 times around the ring at a trot. 2 timesaround the ring at a canter. Then reverseon the ring. Same process. We started outok. The walk went fine. The ring was oblong.One end near the barn. We trotted ok. Thenat the top of the ring we were to start to canter.

Which Bucky did about 7 steps - bucked meoff and headed across the ring to the barnand stopped at the gate. I picked myself upand went back to the gate and got Bucky. Igot back on and back around we went and I was bucked off again. I went back to Buckyto arrive at the same time as my mother .Who was watching from the dining roomwindow. My mother was a tough task makerwhen it came to horse riding lessons. I got atongue lashing for letting go of the reins.NEVER EVER LET GO OF THE REINS. Alesson that is still drilled in my head. Buckyand I were dispatched back out to the ring.I was bucked off again. Another lecture aboutstaying on. I did keep the reins. And wasdragged. Bucky also got a lesson from Mom.

After several tries, Bucky and I decided webetter stick it out together. With a fewexceptions, Bucky and I got along so tospeak for the summer. Then from Octoberto April our only contact was feeding, stallcleaning and brushing daily. Which Buckytook in stride. Then came Spring. WhereBucky would buck again and Bucky and Iwould go through Mom's wrath and lecturesto becoming one again. This was our yearlyritual.

Then one summer Mom decided we wouldbecome jumpers. She had Holy Smoke.Jumping Champion of R.I. and SouthernNew England for 5 straight years. She wouldtrain Bucky and I. We started out ok. Momput up 1 foot jumps. And we took that in stride.The next day 2 foot jumps. Then we had thepro jumps with crossed bars, which was 2 feet.We did those. It was fun Bucky and I decided.The next day was 3 feet. It looked bigger as itwas straight across bars. With muchapprehension we galloped up to it - and wemade it over.. 2 days later she went to 3 feet 6.Now I know 6 inches isn't that big of a deal,except when you are galloping up to it. On apony. Well, I guess Bucky thought it lookedbigger too, as we galloped up there, he decidedto go under it. Leaving me with the bar on myhands for at least 10 feet before we got rid of it. So Mom put one set of crossed bars and onestraight. We made it over. Well, kind of. Whenwe went over, there was so much space betweenBucky and I, you could throw a dog through.But we got to the other side, mostly together.I was still sitting in the saddle - mostly. Mymother's face was of surprise and shaking herhead. She gave me a quick lesson of how tolean forward to the neck of the horse (pony inthis case) to lift my hind end up slightly. So wedid a few more. I don't know how Bucky feltbut to me that jump didn't get any smaller.

Mom felt good about it as the next day, aftera few more - she raise the jump to 4 feet!!! Well, off we galloped. The closer we got, themore I hated that jump. I guess Bucky didtoo, as he skidded to a stop. With me on hisneck. Mom said take a 20 foot or so more forthe lead into the jump. So we went back andaround the top of the ring. Off we went, aroundthe corner and down towards the jump. Mom was closer to the jump this time. What the heckis she doing, I thought. We were almost to thejump - I hate this jump. And Mom let out yellthat scared the hell out of Bucky and I and wemade it over. I don't know about Bucky butmy heart had had it. We came around and shesaid go again. So we galloped up again. And Iwas saying PLEASE Bucky get me over this jump.I hate this jump. Well, He must have heard meas he got me over that jump!! HE didn't go. Heplanted all four in to the ground and I sailedacross and down on to the ground JUST in timeto spook Bucky who put it into reverse. ANDOF COURSE, I am still hanging on to thoseREINS and so the jump and I come back at him.30 feet later Bucky, in blessing, came to a stop.

I now have dirt in my eyes and mouth, my shirt.I have been banged on the jump bars and holder.AND MY MOTHER SAYS - GET BACK ON. -- YEA, RIGHT. No way. But then I rememberthe saying. Hell has no fury, as that of a woman'sscorn, but even worse is my mother's. I got backon. I am shaking. Bucky is shaking. We gallopup and it is skid city. Bucky wants no part ofthis and neither do I. So she gets on and sheraces him around the corner and over they go.She goes around again. And over the jump shewent. NOT Bucky. But Mom did. End of lessonfor the day. The next day we were back to 3 feet 6.Sometimes Bucky felt up to it and sometimes hedidn't. I had been under, over AND through thosejumps. I was sick of it. Finally Mom gave up usbeing champion jumping pony partners.

As the years went on Bucky and I went on to be greatfriends. I could take him out to the big field andwe would play Gene Autry or some other westernstar. Up and down the little ridges. And then wewould relax. I would put on a halter and off wewould go. I would lay on his back as he ate, andI would make things out of the clouds as theyfloated by. We had a big nursery across thehighway, that Bucky and I would go to and downto the creek and have a picnic. I use to be able tostand on his back and ride across the field. Gotmy brother up there too. But he fell and somehowland on my foot as I came down too. I was in acast for weeks. Then in 1955 I rode Bucky to afriends house across the island and we rode around.I was late getting back and was walking Bucky tocool him down and Mom was mad. April 5th.there was a trailer in the driveway. I wonder whathorse Mom was getting now. We weren't. Theywere loading Bucky. It was my 15th birthday. Inever got to say good-by. It took 20 years for meto get close to horses and my mother again. Teenyears are hell on parents and teens alike.

I had a few horses of my own. Rode a few thatbelong to others. But now I see a horse and I canunderstand how an old truck driver feels when hesees a semi truck go by. You sure miss them butyou can't afford them anymore. And don't havethe room to ride them anymore. For those of youwho do. Bless you, my spirit rides with you. Andfrom a woman point of view and maybe guys too.There is nothing like a horses neck to rap your armsaround and have a good cry, when things go bad.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

As I was driving to work yesterdaymorning.... I whizzed bySUNNYSIDE CUTOFF ROAD...Now what kind of road name is that?

I have run across this quite a bitin Bonner County.I walk every morning onKOOTENAI CUTOFF ROAD...Which leads to SCHWEITZER(you got it) CUTOFF ROAD.

And I use to live off ofSPIRIT LAKE CUTOFF ROAD.

And there are others. Some I amsure I have not heard of.And the other thing that bugs meabout the road namesaround here. Where they soshort of names that they couldn'tcome up with better names? Ormore of them?

As there are roads and streetsthat continue BUT there is a blockacross the road. So they jump theblock and continue again. You travel down Larch street andit comes to an end at Division Street. Which is a good name forthat one...because actuallythere is another Larch Street on theback side of Division Street. Youjust have to go a block down and turnthen another block and there you are,the other half of Larch Street.

There is Florence Street that goesacross Sandpoint to stop on LarchStreet. And to be taken up again aby driving to the left or right, to anotherblock, back around to Hickory, I think.And there you are..the rest of Florence St.There are too many to list.

There are some of these all over the county.You go across Sandpoint on Boyer Street,cuts thru the whole town,UNTIL you get to Schweitzer Cutoff Road.Then you jag to the left down SchweitzerCutoff Road and you end up back on Boyer Street. (this was done because they needmore land for the airport years ago)

There are so many double names.Humbird. Are you in the town of Kootenai,or Ponder Point, or out in Vay. Alpine ... are you in town or are you inSamuel's area?

I think if there is one name already, thereshouldn't be another one. The second oneshould have a different name and noAlpine Place doesn't count as differentenough from Alpine Street or Alpine Road. It confuses the post office and UPS people. And worse of all, the emergency crew.

If a road ends at a T, then it should notbe allowed to take up again ablock or two away. Surely they can comeup with new road names.

And I won't even get into the mult-name roads....

Like in Vay area.........Is itKendall Road, or Vay Road, or is it3 Mile Road?. Depends onwho you ask and how long they havelived there. Because it is all the same road.

So if you are in Bonner County, I hope youknow where you are going, because youcould be on the wrong side of town or county.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

To day being my honest work day, andtime is limited in the morning beforeI go, I am going to cheat today.

I am putting up an e-mail that hasbeen forwarded for years. I received itThe first time when I startede-mailing, about 9 years ago. I havereceived it over the years many times. I came across it a couple days ago,and thought I would run it here for thosewho have not seen it. In these days latelyit sure does apply. So here you are..CommonSense.

Today we mourn the passing of a belovedold friend, Mr. Common Sense.Mr. Sensehad been with us for many years. No oneknows for sure how old he was since hisbirth records were long ago lost inbureaucratic red tape.He will beremembered as having cultivated suchvalue lessons as knowing when to comein out of the rain, why the early bird getsthe worm and that life isn't always fair.Common Sense lived by simple,soundfinancial policies (don't spend more thanyou earn) and reliable parenting strategies(adults, not kids, are in charge).Hishealth began to rapidly deterioratewhen well intentioned but overbearingregulations were set in place - reportsof a six-year-old boy charged with sexualharassment for kissing a classmate;teens suspended from school for usingmouthwash after lunch;and a teacherfired for reprimanding an unruly student,only worsened his condition.Mr. Sensedeclined even further when schools wererequired to get parental consent to administeraspirin to a student; but, could not informthe parents when a student became pregnantand wanted to have an abortion.Finally,Common Sense lost the will to live as theTen Commandments became contraband;churches became businesses; and criminalsreceived better treatment than their victims.Common Sense finally gave up the ghostafter a woman failed to realize that a steamingcup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in herlap, and was awarded a huge settlement.Common Sense was preceded in deathby his parents, Truth and Trust,his wife,Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility;and his son,Reason. He is survived by twostepbrothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner.Not many attended his funeral because sofew realized he was gone. If you stillremember him, pass this on; if not, jointhe majority and do nothing.

I could not say this better myself. I wishI knew the author as I surely would havesent praises for a well written e-mail.

Monday, June 27, 2005

What started out as a small project,has turn out to be something else.

First, I got to admit it was my fault.Sweetie had been talking about howwe should replace some of the stepson our front porch. Our front porchwas a semi-circle porch. He alsowanted to down size it to a straightporch. I wasn't crazy about that. Ilike the shape of the porch as you couldcome off any area.

I had told Sweetie I like to have theporch fixed before some one gothurt as the side part of the stairswere like see-saw when you steppedon them. And as Sweetie can do, hekept postponing it. So I took thingsin my own hands.

Meaning I got a large hammer, andpry bar and I went to work taking thestairs off the side, and while I was thereI took off the boardwalk that I didn'tlike anyway. It was a boardwalk thatwent to the drive way. I learn thisin Housewife 101, you tear it apartthey have to fix it.

This wonderful thing caused us to seethat underneath the stair left, wasany homeowners horror. Boardrot!!. The deck was fine and strongbut the bottom of the stairs wassitting in mud/dirt and rotted.

So we went to our Home Depot,and bought, cement, boards for steps,and back step, and stair sides,prefab ones. Only problem aboutthat is they only had 5 stairs, andours use to be 3. No problem, justcut the top two. Yea, right. Not soeasy.

So Sweetie had our Pastor comeover as he is also a carpenter.Also a friend came over andthey help get the prefab cut.Then he was on his way, Hecut and hammered and therethey were, stairs.

Now the rail. Rails look sonice, and they are necessaryfor cluttys friends and strangersthat come to your door. Cut downlawsuits.

This proved out to the almostour down fall. Cutting the rightslant. The rail took two days,Not because of the actual doingbut due to the thinking of theright angle. And it also tooksome bad cuts of some goodwood. Cutting and recutting.But all ends well. As you cansee. These stairs are strong!And he added a nice touchwith the lattice. Oh, yea,we don't even want to talkabout the $$$ and howmany trips to the HomeDepot, lucky for us it isonly about a mile away.

Friday, June 24, 2005

My friend has her blog going pretty well now.She keeps it active about 2 to 3 times a week.She gives background as well as updates onher situation. It is a good read. Some of it iswith humor...Like I said before... there for the grace of Godcould go anyone of us.So check her out and see how she is doing.click on the side in the link scramble messand find "Doing it Again"www.parentingagain.blogspot.com

We all have memories of our first car,our best car, or favorite car... but whatabout your worse car...or your funniest car.

My funniest car, I painted a small signon the tail gate. It was a brown stationwagon. Chevie, but I forgot what model.I had printed on the tailgate...Chitty Bang Bang..My husband was not happy with me.But it wasn't that bad. It would get mewhere I had to go. Just a lot of timesit didn't sound like it was going to.And it used oil. Oh, gosh did it use oil.I use to joke about how you put in gasand fill it up with oil.

My worse car/vehicle was a Jeep stationwagon. It also was brownish. brown-grey,is that a color? My husband bought it andbrought it home with pride. He took it towork and got new tires. That vehicle lovedhim. I lived in Roslyn and he worked inEllensburg.

My first trip was to Ellensburg with it.Had to take some tools to his shop. It hadits new tires. Half way it had a flat tire.No problem, I have changed many a tiresin my life time. I am not shy about changingtires. BUT first there wasn't a lug wrench.Then I find out, there is NO JACK!!.

Now my temperature is rising. But Godtakes care of animals and fools.And I had6 of my kids with me. Along came a guywith a backhoe. He was nice enough to raisethe Jeep with the backhoe and flagged downa car which let us use the lug wrench. And Iwas back on the road. Got to his shop, andtraded vehicles with my husband. So hecould get the tire fixed.

The next day, I was going to town andthe back window in the tailgate, droppeddown with a bang. Again, I traded vehicleswith my husband. Now this vehicle wouldgo anywhere, with my husband and notrouble at all.

3 days later, I am in the grocery store...and come back out to water all over,under it. It blew a water hose. Luckily, itwas the weekend and my husband washome. So went back into the store,called him. He got a hose and cameand replace it. I swear this vehicle waspossessed. I asked my husband, couldn'the drive the Jeep for a while, I wasreally leery of it.

He drove it for 2 weeks. Nothing. Butthen, it turned on him. He got off workand there was a oil spot under it. It tookhim two days to find out where it camefrom. A couple days later, he had a flattire late at night. And then anotherwater hose broke.

Was wondering if I was theneighborhood snoop or theroving camera gal..In our nieghborhood we have acompany that makes theirliving with sawdust. Whichthey have huge pile of.Over the years we and thetown has complained about it.Couple years ago, they put up anet and some trees. Onlyproblem with that is, the netis only tall enough on one side.The other is about 10 feet shorterand the trees are slow growing.So every so often (especially instorms like we got Tuesday)we get doused with sawdust.All over our yards, vehicles and etc.We have asked them to do somethingabout raising the net. Also theyare not to have the pile taller thanthe net. Last Friday, I was onmy walk and notice they were pilingup about 20 feet higher than the net.Wednesday morning, we had it allover the neighborhood. So took mytrustie camera and walked theneighborhood. Taking pictures ofpeople's yards, as well as my own.The one that got it the worse wasthe nursery across the street. Alltheir trees, bushes and etc. werecovered. The apt. building next to it hadtheir yard and courtyard with it.The road had it. So turn mypictures over of the nursery tothe gal who runs it. She hadcalled proper governmentagency and they werecoming up to see first hand.But I wondered, should I bedoing this. Is this invadingpeople's privacy?

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

See Cave time is when we shutall the curtains, shades, blindsfrom 5am to 11pm. Giving thehouse a cave appearance.

If we can get a breeze comingin and then with everythingshut, we might have a chanceto get thru the day withoutfeeling like we came thruthe steam shower.

The battle is Sweetie and I.

I don't want the airconditioner in the window yet.Last two years we had them upand then sat there for 2 monthswith no hot weather. And the coldweather coming in thru the airconditioners. Besides I don't lookforward to the humm of the dangthings.One of them is on the samelevel as a jet plane. Last year, Iwon the battle and it was put inthe back room. The yearbefore, he put it in the front andthe T.V. had to be up super loudto hear it over the AC. And it wasone of those thermostat controlled.So when it hits goal, it went off.The sound on the TV blasted us.

I think I won last year out of default.See when Sweetie removed the bigAC out of the front in the fall of 03, hetook it that the bracing under it wouldhold it. So he came in and unpluggedand lifted up the window.. then Iheard thud, and UH,HO... wordsyou really don't like to hear fromyour husband. Seems the AC wastoo heavy for the bracing and theplant below caught the AC. Whileboth survived, neither one of themlook so pretty any more.

So I am hoping for a couple morecool days. But he says they are goingin by the 4th of July. But eventhen we still have the cave. AndI don't do so well, in the cave. Ilove windows, daylight. A bat girlI would never be.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

What a beautiful day yesterday was.I spend 99% of the day outside. I gota lot of gardening things done. Evendid some weeding. Seems like thereare a lot of sticker types this year.Every where. In the vegetable gardenas well as in the flower garden.

When Sweetie got home from work,we got some yard work done and washedthe cars. We live on a dirt road and theygrated it last week. So the dust is back.

It is Summertime so that means gueststart come in. And this week we get ourfirst one. I have a Cousin and his wifecoming in from San Diego. I have thehouse cluttered controlled. I can't sayclutter free, as it seems like the harderyou try to get rid of stuff, more of itshows up.

School is out and my grandson hasstarted his last year in day camp. Thearea has a wonderful day camp with somany things to do.

So I am off for my one and only day ofhonest work. You all go enjoy the wonderfulweather. As you never know how long itwill last before the next series of summerstorms.

Monday, June 20, 2005

This past weekend got me thinking.Now there is a dangerous thought.There is Mother's Day and there isFather's Day. Why do we need GrandparentsDay? After all, to become a Grandparentyou had to be a parent... but what wereally need is Sibling Day. I know, thatdoesn't sound as cool. But you can bea brother or a sister and not be a parent.So it sad that we don't honor them.

Younger in age.Sister cool....

I was his oldest (by 4 years) andonly sister. And I showed him theropes. Good or bad.... but he lookedup to me. When the kids would bullyhim, he would tell him, I'm going to goget my sister, she will teach you a lessonyou will never forget. I was his protectorin life. We were the team. Dad was agreat dad, but he worked. Mom, wellshe had better luck relating to animialsthan humans. So it was us. Don't get mewrong, we had our rows like normal kids.Maybe that is why Mom like animalsbetter. lol... But I was cool, in his eyes.Then I moved away... He did come outfor a short time to live with me, buthe return to R.I. Even then I was stillkind of cool.

In our 30's and 40's Brother cool

I returned to R.I. with husband andchildren. And the roles reverse. My brotherworked at oil company and he repairedfurness. But he was also on the Fire Dept.staff. (It was volunteer) He had moved tothe island where our father was born. Andcarried on the family name there(3rd generation). He was well liked byjust about everyone on the island. Hewas on the Search and Rescue, he wasan EMT. He was my brother and WAY COOL.... oh, he was way morecool than I was when we were younger. We had great times when I lived on theisland too.I would venture to say, it wasthe best time of all our years... even tothis day. And I was Roy's sister... lol...and that was COOL. He was high up inthe ranks on the Fire Dept. I stood on thesidewalk and watch him go by in the fireengine in the 4 of July parade... He wascool...I was so proud of him and he wasmy brother.

In our 50'... No one cool.

We had lost our parents 4 years apart.And this was a time in our lives whereneither of us was cool. My fault just asmuch as his. Even more so...maybe ...our parents. My mother's last revenege...to divide and conquer. She did a great job.But we helped. I have learned that we aretwo separate people. He has his life in R.I.with his wife, children, grandchildren,friends, and lives it like, hopefully, as hewants. I live in Idaho, with my husband,children, grandchildren, great grandchildren,and live life as I want. While we are separatedby miles physically as well as mentally(remember I am the wild child) yet stillheld together by the cord of family.

60 -65 Sister cool again..

I have for the past 5+ years written alittle bit in each birthday card, to let himknow how life is at that point. He is 4 yearsyounger. So when I reached 60, 62 and 65I have told him not to be afraid as eachone has its great points. And now we aremellowing in life. Checking in on birthdays.His is near Christmas so it is a combo. Andmine is near Easter.. so it is a combo ofsorts too. The other day I had to call himabout some business, and he told me, hereads my blog. That he really likes it. Somebetter than others. But twice he told me howmuch he enjoys it. So once again... Sister iscool.....not as cool as brother was.... but weare older...

10 years ago, I got to meet my half sister.From my Dad's first marriage. She is 5years and one day older than I am. Whata shame, that adult didn't let the childrenshare lives in those days. For I missedhaving an older sister for 55 years. So weare trying to catch up.

The best is yet to come I hope.I am thewild child....places to go, people to see,things to do....as our father use to say....Hopefully I can still teach my kid brother,that life is still worth the trip, and to makethe most of it. to KISS... (keep it simplesibling) and sit back and enjoy the ride...stretch the comfort zone and enjoy life....

Friday, June 17, 2005

I was lucky to have a great dad. He would getme out of hot water with my mother manytimes over the years.And he had the patience to give me drivinglessons. And when he died, I lost my friendas well, as my Dad.

I think fathers today, on a whole, better fathersthan in my younger years, or even the fathersof my children.

Fathers today participate far more in the child'slife. More on hands. Maybe it has to do with theworking mom's, or just the changing times.Our church seems to have an abundance of greatdad's. Attentive dads. And the children show it.Well behave children. And these dads are not realstrict, or if they are, they do it with humor.

There are stay at home Dads now, which was highlyunusual in my days of rearing children. And theyare doing a great job of it.

We have in our society multi-families. So you havestep- dad's. (I will give the disclaim now... I knowthere are some terrible step-dad's. My grandsonhad one. And even some father were not made forthe role.) But for the most part, there are some prettyfantastic step dad's. Some are so close to thechildren, even adult children, that it is hard to believethey are step. Maybe instead of Father's day, we should have Dad's day. Because just aboutanyone can become a father, but it takes a realman to be a DAD.

So this Father's days.... Happy Father's day toall the Dad's, and the step Dad's and the mother'swho have had to be both.

And a special HAPPY DAD'S DAY to the manwho calls me daughter, not because he has tobut because he wants to. Thanks, EFL.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

She was raised in a small town, actuallyan island. And she was the only girl, with3 brothers. They were very protective asshe was one of the youngest. They tormentedher, as brothers do, I am sure.

Then she met a Navy man and her worldopen up wide. She traveled up and downthe East coast over the years. Even had atime in R.I. near family for a while. I havegreat memories of my older cousins, asmy younger cousins either had not beenborn or just born when they left the East Coast.

They headed to San Diego. I joined up withthem years later as a late teen. I was gatheredup and taken into the fold and been thereever since. My Uncle is and was a strict Navyman. He has mellowed over the years, or wehave wore him down.

But Aunt Harriet, lover of life, has alwaysbeen wild spirit of a person. Maybe that iswhy we are so close. We are the wild child'sof the families. All the rest of the families stayedin R.I. Her brothers and my brother.

At 40 she was 20, at 70 she was 30 and nowin her 80's she is timeless. She is so busy, Iwould not be able to keep up with her if I wasliving close. She has several quilting groupsshe belongs to. She is a Red Hat Lady, she getstogether with her former employee friends fromthe Library, that she worked for about 20 years.Always on the go, and as I said she can out shopanyone half her age.

She has taught me so much... the biggest word Ican think of and not to be taken lightly... is LOVE,no matter what, kind of love... guess some call itunconditionally love. She taught me patience,she taught me ONE DAY AT A TIME type ofpatience. But she taught me not to let anyonemake a fool of you either. Great cook, GREAT MOM, and showed us how to surviveour children. lol.. She has been a shining exampleto not only to me, but her two super daughters.And her sons adore her. Well, actually we all do.Sons, daughters, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and of course her husband....she is loved so much because she loves so much.

And in my mind is a picture that will always ....I mean, always be in my mind to the day I died.Because it is so much...Aunt Harriet .. who hasmore than earn the name of Mom ... The picture?It was last year when I was there for a visit...My Uncle and I were at the kitchen tablereading the San Diego paper as we did eachmorning together..... when in the family roomjust one step below the kitchen... came a vision....

My Aunt Harriet/Mom, came out with herhands raised high in the air, and she dancedaround the room,to the music that was in herhead, as she hum, with the most serene lookon her face, the biggest smile of all...the wild spirit that she is....the body might be getting frailer but the spiritlives ever so freely....

They say the best is yet to come, I can hardly wait.That's my Aunt Harriet/Mom...

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Yesterday a gal that was my boss whenI first re-enter the job market 19 years ago,stopped by. We had a great conversation.We were catching up on other former employees,that each of us still knew where they wereand what they were doing.

And one of the thing that we agreed onwhen we were talking about former fellowemployee, is how old they seem to be getting.After not seeing some of them for 10 years,we were surprised at how much they aged.It is as if people's age stands still until you seethem again. And then we laughed as weknew we, too, had aged as well.

Neither one of us is a mirror person. Meaningwe use mirrors to see if our hair is on straightand that is it. You hardly see the face as youare concentration on your hair. With that doneyou turn away. My mirror is the normal height,but I am not. So I only get a glimpse of my faceand upper shoulders. So I don't see how the restof me has gone to pot so to speak.

I can remember when my father was 72,he was talking about how that old guy inthe mirror seems to be taking over his body.

I am lucky as my father's side of the familyhas always looked at least 10 years youngerthan they are. I can remember when I was 16and one of my fellow class mates was upset withme for dating that older guy. He must be at least25! she said. I had a heck of a time convincing herthat the man she saw me with at the ice creamshop was my 44 year old FATHER... He was outhaying just less than a month before he passedaway at 82. So I am lucky to have active familybackground. My father's sister is 87 and can outshop any young person half her age.

Being I don't see myself, I go by how I feel. Sothat is where the title comes from. See for yearsI felt like 28 and now I feel 45. Don't get me wrong,I know how old I am, and will tell you in a halfsecond if you ask. And I am proud to be 65.But that is only when some one ask or the questionof age comes up. But as I go thru my daily life,I feel 45. Then there are the times when I try to dothings I use to do when I was 45 and my bodyreminds me that I am 65. ha..

Monday, June 13, 2005

To keep the neighbor's dogs out ofour yard. It was either this or shootthe dogs. lol

Which by the way, as My Sweetie,was putting the gates up, a neighborand his dog, stops by and ask him whatis he doing.. You know one of thosestupid questions....but it gets better.

As My Sweetie, is telling him as politelyas he can manage, he was putting up afence so the neighborhood dogs would stopusing our yard for a litter box.....of which the man's dog properly wentthru the gates and squatted next toour tree, as if to demonstrate why weneeded the fence. The red face neighborcalled his dog, as My Sweetie, was telling himagain why we were putting up the fence...this time not so nicely... The man and dog left.The man returns with a shovel. But, MySweetie, had already threw it in the ditch.(he really wanted to take it down to theneighbor's yard and throw it in there).

When we first started this a couple weeksago, one of the other neighbors looks overand says, Oh, you are putting up a fence tokeep out my dogs, huh?( laughingly) Thrugritted teeth, I said yea, yours and the restof the neighborhood. It gets me as he has afenced in back yard. But he leaves the gateopen. And then this year he removed partof the fence so he could put his camper inthe yard.

It really irritates me that we are the oneswho have to spend the money to maintaintheir dogs. But after being polite (for 7 years)about asking the neighbors to keep their dogsout of our yard, we figure it is easier on ournerves if we fence our yard in.

And the neighbors are great, except forthis flaw... which they don't apparently see.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Friday, June 10, 2005

When there is a crime there are victims.But there are usually outlaying victims.Ones that people don't know about.

Recently there was such a murder in theTri-cities area. There was the mother andtwo children, that you read in the paper.But also there was the grandfather whofound them. And then the knowledge ofthe fact it was his child that allegedly whodid the crime. So he has become a victim.

The parents on the other side are the victims.The friends and family that go to the waketoday are the victims.

And beyond that you have her fellowworkers, and her customers who talkedto her each time they went to the storewhere she worked.

And even further, is the last day of thislady's life. There was an incident, wherestrangers were helping her. Who let hergo with her husband and children. Theyare victims as well, as now they questionthemselves, did they do enough. Did theysee something and didn't recognize it, andif they had, would she still be alive?

Thursday, June 09, 2005

I apologize for the scrabble eggs of my links... on the side.after trying 3 times for about 30 minutes at a time. I give up for now... it is either that or I smash the dang computer.I have gone to the template and put almost 2 inches of space between each of these links...I have tried putting the name of the blog between them with the space. And what you see is what it came out with. So until my nerves calm down, and I get back from working in the garden to calm my nerves....lol... what you see ... is what you will get.

They are good links... there is a new one there. One of my friends has started a blog. After being badgered for months, she gave into me, and has started one. She has a great subject. Grandparents raising grandchildren. Of which she is one of the ones I mention in my blog of last week. So go check it out. Start at the bottom and work your way up. And give her some slack as she is just starting out, as you can see it would take a few days to bring up something new. But now that she has started about her situation from the beginning she is talking off flying. She gives a real insight. It is called DOING IT AGAIN.

Here I thought I was doing so well withwhat I watch on television. I am not atelevision snob. I do not watch only PBS.But the shows have gotten so bad, or I amgetting so old. The shows seem to be gearedtowards the 12 to 28 age group. And I leftthat group so many years ago.

I like the magazine shows, 20/20, 60 Minutes,Primetime, Dateline and such. Andthat depends on the subject. And eventhose I get turn off. I think it was Primetimea couple weeks ago, we watched. It had thePaula Abdul story on. I thought it would bethe usual 20 minutes and then have something else.There was about 5 minutes of story therethat they stretched over an hour! Boring...I walk thru from time to time to see if theyhad changed the subject yet, as Sweetie waswatching. They didn't. I view these programsas entertainment, as facts aren't always their friend.I guess I am getting to be such a cynic, youknow believe a quarter of what you hear andhalf of what you see.

But last week and I promised myself I wasn'tgoing to watch it this week, is a show calledDancing with the Stars. My draw on to thisprogram was the Seinfeld actor. Well, watchingthese Stars(?) dance with the pro's was likewatching a car wreck. You just can't turn yourhead away. The stars dance with pros. Andsome of these men pros ...wow, what premadona's...wow...

Holyfield may be a great fighter, but on thedance floor, well, it was almost like watchingElaine dance on Seinfeld. And you know howbad that was. So while watching the East Coastprograms, I stayed away. But then it cametime to switch to West Coast programs. Andthere it was, 10 minutes into the program. I went"oh, no. Oh, well, I will watch and see whogets bounced off."

Like the Idol, they like to draw it to the end.Poor losers had to dance again. If I wasone of them (and I do have two left feet orI think 3 right) I would have wanted off atthe beginning. And once again, Holyfieldstruggled thru it. And there were a couplewoman that were not light on their feet.And judges, well, they make Simon soundlike a cheerleader. Then the vote off. Finally.

My jaw fell, when they kept Holyfield along witha few others. I mean after all, as a dancerHolyfield is a great boxer. Oh, well. Am I goingto watch next week. I hope not. I will makesure my sweetie is still up and has the control.But then that isn't any good either as he lovesAmerican Idol, and I am sure he will lovethis one. I will try to find something to do, likeclean out the lint in the washer. But it is likethe car wreck, you say you won't look, but you do..

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Today on my walking round, there is a change.I had two senior citizens that would wave tome every morning when I went by. Youwould be surprised at how much thatmakes your day.

They lived on the corner by the newlybuilt Home Depot. While this did notplease them, (they have lived there formany years) it was doable. Then anenterprising young man asked them ifthey would be interesting in selling theirhome, as he would like it for an office. Sothis past weekend they moved in to Sandpoint.

I looked at the well taken care of lawn andthe buckets of flowers, and felt sad. I alwayslike this house, way back before Wal-mart,K-mart and Home Depot come to surface.It has big windows on the East side. Givingalmost a greenhouse effect. It is partly madeof brick. It was a nice combination. And Iam sure the young man who bought it willthink so. But I will miss the couple.

On the other side of things, I was walkingwith my cd/radio combo and listening toone of the morning shows, Daybreak or somethinglike that. They had an author who wrote abook named, I think, Religion and the Soldier,or something like that. One of many subjectsthe author talked about was the ACLU is tryingto get the military to keep God at bay. Somethingabout a lawsuit at Virginia's Military Institute amongothers. I sure hope he is wrong. Among the manythings we should be sending with our troops isthe love of God. How else can you go to war and Irealize this is a yeng and yang of live, but whatsoldier isn't praying as he goes about his duties?Even in the bible, God has his army.

And if this is true, then this is another one ofACLU outrageous courts deals. You know I thinkit is time that the majority got a lawyer, andsued the ACLU for being offensive to our rights.For infringing on our rights. The ACLU may havebeen a good idea when it first started, I don'tremember when it started, but it sure has goneway past where they should be. I wonder, hasanyone ever sued them, for infringing on our rights?Make a heck of a Class act suit.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Higher and higher... taxes, permits, insurance,more needed for the fire dept. more needed forthe inspectors, and more needed for the sheriff aswe become bigger. . More inspectors needed....higher and higher we go.

Decisions, and more decisions. Do we wantduplexes, do we want more commercial properties.What do we want for our small little town.Those of us who are old timers want it tostay the same. But the new comers are comingand progress (?) is coming.

Rules and regulations, where do we stop,or should we do more. How do we make itsafe for all, without over taxation. With services,comes more taxes. Running and hiding won'tdo any good. Burying our head into the groundis not logical. Selling out to go where? Do youreally think it is better on the other side of thestate, or state line?

For so long we have had our paradise. We havehad it quiet, but the traffic is getting to be moreand more. Where do all these people come from?What once was just a little quiet town, now hastraffic jams from 7:15 to 8:30 am. going by ourstreets, on the highway. Do we put up more businessto help get some of that money going by, or dowe want to put up a fence of sorts and hope theydon't see us and travel right by us?

All these are questions that a council have toanswer. And to be honest it is a tough decision.A tight rope to have to walk. The innocents of asmall town is slowly drifting away. The rope has tobe walked, so that the town can keep a handle onthe smallness that we all love. And hope and praythat we don't step off or misstep, and the new rulesdon't runaway with our little town. And we just becomea strip mall that is a mile long, along the highway.

I am glad I am not a council person. But I am aconcern taxpayer, as I watch the changes, the decisionsto be made. I am just one small voice and even I don'tknow where to draw the line.

Monday, June 06, 2005

As my sweetheart in life and I were outcelebrating Saturday night, day before ouranniversary, we stopped by Ivano's to seehis sister and have a glass of wine.

One of the waitress that looks like she isabout 22 said she had to ask us a questionthat she likes to ask older couples. Whatmakes the marriage work?

My quick answer and my sweetie agreed.A good sense of humor. We have to be ableto laugh at ourselves before we can laugh atothers. And we can usually find humor evenin our darkest of times.

See our first 6 years in to our relationshipwas the hardest. But we made it in stylebecause we always stuck together. It was ALWAYS us against the situation. No matter who or what.

My sweetie had some real turbo times after hisbusiness fell apart. So going back to the workforce and having a boss, was not easy. Not somuch as he didn't fit in. It was more to the factof him finding out where. The job he had beforehe started his own business, had major lay-offs.So it was like starting over. He worked as a truckdriver for a logging company. Meaning startingat 2am and heading up to the woods landing area,to be first in line. Hauling all day long getting inat least 3 loads and then heading home, coming inat 11 pm. He took that for 5 months and knew hecouldn't keep it up anymore. His immune systemwas telling him, he needed more sleep. He did a parttime job, and then got on with a truck repair company.That lasted 5 years and then found a job with theschool system. In those years of ups and downs, wemade it. Family illness ran thru those years on bothsides. But we stuck together. On the lowest of lownights, we hugged each other. We cried together andwe laughed together. We saw marriages, of friends,sister,and children. We saw death of family and friends.Always side by side.

So you see, now is the icing on the cake. Not to saylows can't come back, but we know that as long aswe have each other .... we can do it. Kind of a cornysaying but true. Is our relationship perfect? Heck, no.He drives me crazy with his practical jokes, which tookme a few years to ignore and not get caught in them.And I drive him nuts with my laid back, logical attitude.And of course there are some times I am a witch, buthe loves me anyway.He brings me flowers for no reason at all. He hugsme a lot.He is a great cook. He does the holiday cooking, andis known for his Red Rice dish. When I worked, hewould cook dinner on his days off.

We have pet names, but not the usual. He hasMargaret for me, (in fact 3 years ago, the newlymoved in neighbor thought my name was Margaretand put it on our Christmas card.) Which is afterthe commercial about the old ladies entering thehighway, when one of the ladies says to the ladydriver.... "Hit it Margaret". Which my sweetieyelled at me one time when I was at a stop signand it has stuck.I have for him, Jose... When he was goingin to put in for unemployment about 15years ago, he didn't have his Social Securitycard with him. So they wouldn't let him startthe claim until he brought it in, even thoughhe knew his number by heart. So as we are inthe parking lot getting into the car, I said loudly,"Well, Jose if you brought your green card, we wouldn't have this problem." You don't want toknow the look I got from him, just before we bothstarted to laugh.

See, sense of humor is the answer. Besides that... he is a great guy. And God has blessed me well.

Friday, June 03, 2005

I suppose every town has a car that is more noticeable than others. But it seems like they are really unusual.

Ours, the orange with a yellow stripe V.W. bug is just your usual beat up V.W. Nothing unusual about it. But it is every where. And because it does have the yellow stripe going from front to back, you know it is that V.W. As there are other orange bugs in our town.

The bug reminds me of the Timex ad, you know the part about no matter what it keeps on ticking. I encountered it about 8 years ago. At that time I had taken or retrieved my grandson from Farmin School, I would see it zip thru the family parking line. Always full of kids.

Over the years I have seen it around town. I think they must live up Hwy. 200 past Kootenai as I see it heading to town in the morning as I walk and heading home in the evening.

Some one who drives it has worked at Safeway, at the movie theater, and several other places. I have seen it parked in the employee part of Safeway during the day. And across the street from the theater in the evenings.

I have seen a teen boy driving it with younger children, in the past year, so it looks like Orange is doing well with the next generation, as well. All though I have see Mom and Dad driving it and once saw it at the grocery store.

And of course it is the highlight of my grandson's (who is now 14) and mine game of SLUGBUG as we get double points for Orange with the yellow stripe.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

We got our first one years ago.. 1992 or1993. It was one of those, that look likea book and the cord was attached to thecase that had the battery. I still have itaround here somewhere.

We had a medium size motorhome atthe time. And no car with it. So we figuredwe should have a cell phone incase we brokedown in the middle of nowhere. Let me rephrasethat. My husband said we should have onein case we broke down somewhere. We hadthat for about 5 years. I was happy with that.It stayed in the car or the motorhome. Then wegot a towbar and towed our little pickup buthe kept the cell phone incase both of them died.

See how easy it is to talk wives into somethingwhen you use the safety card. Then all his friendsgot the cordless, cell. Well, he looked and lookedand he found one he really liked. And of course,Air Touch (before Verizon) wanted to up dateus with what ever he would like to have, and itwould be FREE... free for the phone, but 2 yearsrope on us. Oops that is called a contract.

Then we made it for 3 more years, then he said there were nicer ones and really honey, Iwant you to have one because.... here goes thesafety card again....... I worry about you drivingto work at night. You should have one so youdon't have to leave the car. And of course, itall made sense, so the hook was planted onceagain, for 2 more years... because the phoneswere updated for FREE...

We stuck it out for the 2 years but I am here totell you those two phone (we tried a differentbrand) were pieces of crap. His was in the shop6 times in the 2 years. Mine spent more timeon the charger than it did anywhere else. Theywere so bad, that when we updated again thispast year, I threw them away instead of turningthem in for abused women. I didn't want anypoor soul have to depend on them. This timewe got a brand name. And you guess it... it hasa camera... men and their gadgets.

Oh, yea, I almost got sucker in on a phoneconversation. You know those ones where someonenear you is talking on the phone and you thinkthey are talking to you. I was at the store andthis women behind me, says... "Friday, shopping,I hate shopping don't you." I almost said something,but as I turned around to look her in the face,I saw the tell tale cord to her ear. Whew... almost. Don't you just hate that. I sure do. I am afraidto talk to a stranger anymore.

I get into hot water with my cell phone. See Iforget it at home. Sometimes I remember tobring it with me. But if I am in a restaurant orany place like that, I turn mine off. And being Iam not real good at electronics' I can't retrievemy messages. But I have learn to look underrecent calls. That is if I remember to see if anyonecalled. I like it in the old days where peopledidn't know where I was. But I have found one thingthey are good for. I stepped mine up for a couplebucks more and now I can call anyone in the USAfor free on weekends. Now that is worth having it for. But have to laugh when I get the bill, mine numberhas anywhere from 10 to 15 calls on it. My husband?130 to 150 calls. And they call women gabbers. Hah!

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

First let me say, I hate seatbelts. For thelongest time it was hard because I felt trapped.But I got use to using the lap strap ones.Then they came out with the harness onecalled shoulder strap. I am short. I can't helpthis, it is an ancestor thing. It is in the genes.So the shoulder strap goes across my neck,like a slow slicing dull knife. I have foughtthis for years. I thought I had solved theproblem by putting the shoulder strap undermy arm. Did this for quite a few years.

Until to my horror, I read Dave Olivera'sHuckleberry column and saw that someone'sdaughter, I believe it was, was ticketed forjust such a thing. She was ticketed as if shehad no seat belt on. Which I don't know howthe officer came up with that, being she hadit on. Is there a part of that law, that says youcan be ticketed for improper use of a seatbelt?

About that time I saw in Harriet Cartercatalog, a seat belt clip. It clips on yourseatbelt and pulls the shoulder part overjust enough to keep it from slicing your neck.I order 6! Why 6? Because I am a passengeras well as a driver. So two of my Bronco, onefor his truck (I don't drive that) and one formy daughter and one for just in case. Gaveone to a friend also. While it isn't the easiestto keep in place, it does work.

Now, let's skip to the commercial. Have yousee the public announcement commercial forClick it or Ticket, with the young man in theconvertible? You know he is driving alonghappy as can be, when up pops his mother inthe back seat, observing he isn't wearing hisseat belt, and says "Well, you might just aswell run with scissors" which another womanpops up and says, "Have you ever seen what awindshield does to your head?" Which bringsanother pop up of Death taking his long fingernailacross his own throat, which bring a police officeralong side, writing out a ticket for $110. Theguy says, "A HUNDRED AND TEN DOLLARS",which pops up a judge along side of him,slamming down the gravel, saying "GUILTY!" Which brings another man next to the judgewho says "AND YOUR INSURANCE POLICYJUST WENT UP"....all of this in a matter of a minute.

Now you would think the average man wouldcatch on to that. And my guy, is the averageguy, has seen this, I know for a fact as I wassitting in my chair next to him. But then againhe does fall asleep easy. lol... He has the theoryof you don't have to use your seatbelt unlessyou leave town. And has made the remark acouple of times as I am buckling up as we areleaving the driveway. So what is the point of all this?

Guess who went to Wally World (wal-mart to rest of you)on Memorial Day and came back with a ticket for .........you guessed it... not wearing a seat belt.

Which by the way, thank the lucky stars as Idaho is cheaper than Washington State. So far